#WWE Mae Young Classic

[silassstingy]

rhea ripley @ the mae young classic - twenty seventeen

[rawsmackdownnxtdivas]

Flashback Photoshoot - Priscilla Kelly

[doomcoon420]

Old lady? Pffft…..Ladies and Gentleman,

Mr. Conway Twitty.

[axelwolf8109]

I thank the United Kingdom Championship Tournament for some fantastic men: Tyler, Pete, Jordan....

I miss it and The Mae Young Classic

[littletroubledgrrrl]

[imvgeswrestling]

》》》

[womenwwe]

Xia Li Released By WWE:

Xia Li has been released by WWE. The news broke following Xia issuing a statement on her social media accounts, posting:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Xia lee (@xialiwwe)

It has been over seven years since I joined WWE, and as the first female Chinese superstar, I feel incredibly proud! I am sincerely grateful to @wwe and @tripleh for welcoming me into this big family. During this valuable time, I have not only grown tremendously but also learned countless invaluable experiences. Thank you for your trust and the opportunities you have given me to break barriers and set an example.

A special thank you to all the coaches, colleagues, and staff who have helped me along the way. Your support and assistance have made me feel at home in a foreign land.

I also want to thank all the WWE fans! Your cheers not only motivate me but also make me feel endless love and support. Your backing is my strength.

This journey with WWE has been wonderful, and I sincerely thank everyone who has been a part of it. This is not the end but a new beginning! Let’s embrace more exciting moments together!

Xia Li first joined WWE in 2017 and competed in the inaugural Mae Young Classic. She also competed in the second Mae Young Classic and joined NXT in 2019. She moved to SmackDown in 2021.

WWE have also released Veer Mahan, Sanga, Jinder Mahal and Xyon Quinn ahead on the 2024 WWE draft.

[glasgowsinner]

𝐈𝐒𝐋𝐀 𝐃𝐀𝐖𝐍 𝑪𝑶𝑼𝑹𝑻𝑵𝑬𝒀 𝑺𝑻𝑬𝑾𝑨𝑹𝑻

in wrestling, courtney got her start in 2013 on the independent circuit making her debut in tidal championship wrestling before appearing in stardom a couple of short years later. it wasn't too long before wwe came calling and invited her to be apart of the mae young, signing her to their ill-fated nxt uk brand. she was eventually paired with fellow scottish indy standout alba fyre, their tag team becoming dubbed the unholy union. their biggest accomplishment to date is winning the women's tag team titles in glasgow.

if people close to courtney had to describe her, they'd likely say she's imaginative, mercurial and has a tendency to use sarcasm to hide her true feelings. she enjoys psychological horror, tarot readings, astrology and classic literature. courtney is known to have a somewhat messy dating history, previously being linked to other wrestlers in relationships that didn't end so well. she feels things very deeply, and can be stubborn but is an utter delight to people she enjoys. she is bisexual and currently single. pls like this or dm me if you would like to plot anything with her!

[mobiblackout]

AEW really had to build their women's division with near zero resources after WWE snached all the good ones during Mae Young Classics. I get that they should put more effort and energy into their booking and storyline development. It's not been perfect for the last five years at all, but I really enjoyed watching people like Sky Blue, Julia Hart, Red Velvet, Kiera Hogen, Abadon all grow right before our very eyes, and you can tell that they are really finding themselves this year, I can't help but to be excited for all of them.

[wrestlinghistorywithkay]

The Scottish Invasion : How Scottish Wrestlers Took Over The WWE Part 1

Since WWE Clash At The Castle is in Scotland , I wanted to highlight a few wrestlers from the company. I decided that this article will be broken up into a few parts. I’m also including a WWE Hall of Famer in this article as well.

The first wrestler I am starting with the Legendary WWE Hall of Famer , the Late , Great , ‘ Rowdy ’ Roddy Piper . Roddy Piper was born Roderick George Toombs on April 17, 1954 in Saskatoon Saskatchewan, Canada and passed away on July 31, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. Piper is of Scottish descent on his mother’s side of his family. He made his wrestling debut in 1969 and retired in 2011. He was actually presented to WWF fans as being from Glasgow , Scotland due to his entrance music and wearing a kilt. He is known for his talk show , Piper’s Pit, where he would interview different wrestlers in the WWF and insult them. He also had a popular rivalry with Hulk Hogan and was involved in a storyline with Pop Music icon , Cyndi Lauper in 1985. He also had a big feud with the nWo in WCW in 1996. He also was an actor with his best known movie being They Live , a Sci-Fi film in 1988. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005.

Drew McIntyre was born Andrew McLean Galloway IV on June 6, 1985 in Ayr, Scotland. He began his wrestling career in 2001 and made his WWE Debut in 2007. In 2009, he was using a gimmick called ‘ The Chosen One ’. He also became Intercontinental Champion as well as a Tag Team Champion with the same gimmick. In 2014, he was released from WWE after being in a group called 3MB. McIntyre went back on the Indie Circuit and joined promotions such as ICW ( Insane Championship Wrestling ) , Evolve Wrestling, WCPW ( What Culture Pro Wrestling ) , and soon joined the TNA Impact roster. He became champion in each of those promotions. McIntyre made his return to WWE in 2017 on the NXT brand and became champion there. Nevertheless, he returned to the main roster in 2018 to become a Tag Team Champion alongside Dolph Ziggler. He won the WWE Championship and World Heavyweight Championship. He also is the winner of the 2020 Royal Rumble. Drew is the first British and Scottish world champion in WWE. He is also a Triple Crown Champion with the company. He was inducted into the ICW Hall of Fame in 2018. McIntyre will be competing for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship against Damian Priest at Clash At The Castle.

Piper Niven was born Kimberly Benson on May 6, 1991 in Kilbirnie , Scotland. She made her wrestling debut in 2007. Niven made her WWE debut in 2017 as a part of the Mae Young Classic, however , she was signed to the company in 2019. She performed under the name, Doudrop during the Thunderdome era in WWE from 2021-2022. Niven was known as Viper during her ICW run from 2013 to 2019. She is also a two time Women’s Champion for the promotion. She also had a title shot for the ICW World Heavyweight Championship during her run with ICW as well. Thus, she also had a run in Japan when she wrestled for The Art Of Stardom. She is a one time champion for the promotion alongside Iyo Sky and HZK. She is also a one time SWA World Champion. Niven also participated in the British Boot Camp for TNA Impact Wrestling. Niven made her NXT UK debut in 2019 when she called out Rhea Ripley. This, her first televised match happened the same year for WWE Worlds Collide against Zelina Vega. She won the match. She is a two time 24/7 Champion and one time Women’s Tag Team Champion alongside Chelsea Green. She will be competing for the WWE Women’s Championship against Bayley at Clash At The Castle.

My Final Thoughts :

This first part was very interesting to write about. I love all three of these wrestlers a lot. I also think that Roddy Piper is the greatest Heel of all time. Getting to learn about all three of the wrestlers I featured was amazing too. I’ll be writing more about Scottish wrestlers soon.

Love You All,

- Kay

[blowflyfag]

SPARK OF SOMETHING SPECIAL 

THE RISE OF THE AMERICAN JOSHI PROMOTION

As Japanese women’s promotions continue to gain influence worldwide, joshi-inspired companies have begun popping up around the U.S. In this feature story, PWI helps explain the growing phenomenon

TEXT BY KAREN PETERSON

PHOTOS BY JORDAN WILLIAMS

[Maya Yukihi, a two-time former champion of the Ice Ribbon promotion, twists the limbs of COLOR’s leader SAKI. This meeting in Orlando marked the very first singles bout between the two.]

OVER EIGHT YEARS of working the Japanese independent circuit contemporaneously, Maya Yukihi and SAKI have crossed paths numerous times. With showcase matches at Pro Wrestling NOAH and All Japan Pro Wrestling, competing in Stardom’s 2023 Triangle Derby, and working at multiple women’s promotions in Japan, they’d never faced off in a one-on-one bout. However, that changed on October 14, at the Englewood Neighborhood Center in Orlando, Florida, where these world-renowned freelance wrestlers finally locked horns in a main-event singles match for the inaugural SPARK Joshi Atlantic championship. “We’ve wrestled plenty of times, but always in tag and three-person matches,” Yukihi said enthusiastically. “I didn’t expect this to happen in the united states!”

The North American scene, in particular, has seen a significant uptick in Japanese wrestlers exploring the international wrestling landscape with fly-ins for single commitments, while others gain notoriety by making frequent visits to various North American and European promotions. Showcase tournaments such as the Mae Young Classic and the success of Japanese stars in WWE and All Elite Wrestling have served as the gateway for many to begin exploring their options outside the big companies.

American independent promotions–GCW, Deadlock Pro, West Coast Pro, and Prestige Wrestling, to name a few–have showcased Japanese talent, further contributing to the interest and continued success of the Japanese women’s wrestling scene. Even legends including Chigusa Nagayo, Bull Nakano, and Manami Toyota have all worked with international promotions to help make joshi more accessible across the board.

[“If wrestling in Japan isn’t a goal, I would question your intentions as a wrestler.” Thus says Australia native KZT, seen here making good use of her jiu-jitsu skills against Kelsey Raegan.]

The diversity in the North American independent scene isn’t just minted to athletes from Japan, as many wrestlers have relocated to the United States to hone their craft or work in backstage capacities. While she competes for WOW Superheros as Exodus, works behind the scenes t a major American promotion, and frequents East Coast outfits including GCW and frequents East Coast outfits including GCW, and DPW, KZT is an Australia-born wrestler based in Orlando with a full plate and an even bigger bucket list. “Wrestling in Japan is an absolute goal of mine. If wrestling in Japan isn’t a goal, I would question your intentions as a wrestler,” KZT mused, looking back at a recent work trip to the country. 

When asked for her thoughts on being an Australian working in an American-based Japanese-inspired promotion in SPARK, she smiled. “It pretty much goes in line with who I am as a person,” explained KZT, who showed off her jiu-jitsu skills against Flordia mainstay Kelsey Raegan. “People always assume some things about me, but as soon as I open my mouth, they notice my Australian accent, and they find out things like I’m a black belt. I’ve never been one to fit in.”

For many wrestlers, making the journey to Japan–even for one single match–remains a bucket list item, as trying to find a foothold within the competitive market can be rather challenging. Founded in 2023, SPARK Joshi Puroresu of America is one of the latest showcase promotions to further expand opportunities for Women’s wrestling–and specifically, for wrestling on an international level.

The existence of Japanese-inspired wrestling promotions, such as Kitsune Women’s Wrestling and SPARK Joshi Puroresu of America, has inspired excitement among fans and wrestlers alike. These leagues provide another avenue for fans to experience Japanese wrestling without the international airfare; offer Japanese competitors chances to experience the international fan response while wrestling deserve opponents from around the world; and serve as a potential proving ground for talent interested in achieving the elusive dream of wrestling in Japan.

“When [SPARK] contacted me, I [realized] that this is something that I can bring my British skills to, plus what I learned in Japan. Said Xia Brookside, just prior to her title bout with SPARK Joshi Pacific champion Ram Kaichow. “And with all the talented women here, we can show an American audience what women wrestlers are made of.”

Brookside, a former member of the NXT U.K. roster, made her Japanese debut with Stardom at 18 years old. Now 25, the daughter of retired British grappler Robbie Brookside has completed five tours in Japan. Her most recent excursion was for the Triangle Derby in January 2023, when she completed as part of Mina Shirakawa’s unit, Club Venus.

[Maika Ozaki applies a camel clutch to Amber Nova during their encounter at RISING HEAT East.]

For Japanese natives performing outside of their home country, one of the biggest eye-openers tends to be the energy of the international crowd–especially how vocal fans are with their opinions and expressions. Typically, Japanese audiences don’t break into song, rounds of chanting, or candidly express their opinions. However, the overall positive energy is definitely not lost in translation. “Because we’re in America, I was curious what the atmosphere would be like,” confessed Miu Wantanaabe, a popular member of the TJPW roster who has only wrestled internationally a handful of times. “The fans know and love Japanese wrestling, so it made me so happy.” In her victory over IMPACT’s KiLynn King, Wantanabe put her strength and power to the test, refusing to let the language barrier impede her performance. 

One of the clear advantages of SPARK and similar promotions is the shared enthusiasm to pay homage to Japanese wrestling traditions, but to present them in a way that is more accessible to the non-Japanese speaking market. SPARK showrunner Chibi (C.B.) joins with inaugural SPARK Atlantic champion SAKI (founder of freelance group COLOR’S) to open and close each show with a self-produced, Japanese pop-inspired theme song called “ZA SUPAAKU” (“THE SPARK”).”I was able to come to the United States for the first time with the advent of SPARK Joshi,” SAKI told PWI, after defeating Maya Ykihi in the main event of RISING HEAT EAST in Orlando. “So, I want to do my best to help take the company to new highs.”

[Xia Brookside struggles to break free of Ram Kaichow’s grip during an unsuccessful bid for the SPARK Joshi Pacific title.]

[SAKI, as the newly crowned SPARK Joshi Atlantic champion, closed out RISING HEAT EAST on a high note.

MODERN MYTH PHOTOGRAPHY]

With the various women’s promotions in Japan opening their doors to more international wrestlers, promotions such as SPARK offer opportunities for American prospects to build rapport with potential future colleagues, while also gaining a career understanding of what they should expect when they touch down in Japan (should they choose to pursue that). “It’s a dream come true,” said Texas native Jessie Elaban. “I wanted to bring everything that I learned in Japan to the States.”

Elaban, who formerly competed for NXT under the name Jessi Kamea, also joined Mina Shirakawa’s Club Venus stable during a 2023 Stardom stint. In a conversation after the show, she seemed grateful for the dynamic new platform in SPARK. “I am having to make adjustments between Japanese and American styles,” admitted Elaban. “But I feel like I'm able to be more fluid with the new me.”

In addition to helping talent grow and prosper, proliferation of American international leagues is an obvious benefit for fans of exciting, athletic, and hard-hitting wrestling. Promotions such as SPARK and Kitsune–and Sukeban, which filmed a colorful TV pilot this past September in New York City–have captured the imaginations of those who stream joshi shows and covet chances to see their favorite ring performers mix it up in person.

With the global presence of joshi continuing to mount, the future is bright for women’s wrestling. And, with the ever-increasing interest in Japanese wrestling, forbidden doors are getting kicked open around the world.

[SPARK Joshi offered Florida wrestling enthusiasts appearances by Tokyo Joshi Pro standouts Miu Wantananbe (left, victorious over KiLynn King) and Miyu Yamashita (inset, landing a hard strike to Jessie Elaban.)

MODERN MYTH PHOTOGRAPHY]

[rawsmackdownnxtdivas]

Flashback Photoshoot - Rhea Ripley

[celestial-thoughts]

the galaxy is burning

Pairing: platonic Shayna Baszler & Tommaso Ciampa

Word count: 0.9k

Author's notes: set immediately after the events of Money in the Bank 2023. Angst, hurt/comfort. title is in reference to the tweet Shayna posted shortly after attacking Ronda.

Shayna needs to talk to someone, anyone or she's going to do things that she knows she'll regret. The problem is, all of the people she would normally go to aren't an option. 

Dakota is at home, resting her knee and watching Bayley and Iyo put their bodies on the line in the Money in the Bank ladder match. Talking to Jessamyn or Marina would require breaking kayfabe, which she can't do. And even if she could, Marina would probably curse Shayna out as soon as she picked up the phone. 

And she can't talk to Ronda. She can't, even though Ronda knew what was going to happen and promised that she wouldn't hold it against Shayna. Because despite the fact that kayfabe is not reality, a small part of Shayna felt good when she did what she did. 

The guilt is what keeps her from searching for Ronda backstage. 

There is one other person she could talk to. He's not in London, and she's not even sure if he's watching the show. But if there's anyone on the roster who knows about stabbing your best friend in the back, it's Ciampa. 

"Hey, I was wondering when you'd call," Ciampa says as soon as the call connects.

"I take it you're watching the show?" Shayna asks, sitting down in a quiet corner. 

"Of course I am," Ciampa replies. There's a moment of silence between them before he speaks again. "How are you feeling?"

Shayna sighs. "Conflicted," she says. "I mean, I feel awful. She's been my best friend for a decade. We finally got the run together that we had been pushing for, and I just threw it away. But..." 

"But what?" Ciampa asks.

"There was this part of me that felt so good. Which is horrible, I know." Shayna says, clenching the hand that isn't holding her phone into a tight fist. 

Ciampa is quiet for a while, before he speaks. "It's understandable," he says. "That it felt good to do that." 

"Did you feel good when you did it?" Shayna asks. She thinks back to 2017, before she had ever stepped foot in WWE. She remembers watching the iconic moment when Ciampa turned on Johnny Gargano, and the incredible feud that it had sparked. 

"No," Ciampa admits. "But I had just ruptured my ACL, I knew that I was going to be out for a while, there were a lot of emotions in the moment." He pauses momentarily before continuing. "But just because it didn't feel good for me, doesn't mean it can't feel good for you." Another moment passes. "Do you know why it felt good?" Ciampa asks. 

"Yes," Shayna says without hesitation. Because of course she knows why, she just hasn't been able to say it until now.

Which is why she's incredibly grateful for Ciampa's next question. "Do you want to tell me about it? Get it off your chest?"

So she tells him about it. About spending the last decade in Ronda's shadow. The first 15 years of her MMA career completely ignored and forgotten, because it was before the UFC, before The Ultimate Fighter, before Ronda. 

She tells him about the resentment she has harbored since 2018, when Ronda was handed a match at WrestleMania while she was scratching and clawing for a rematch with Ember Moon for the NXT Women's Championship. She talks about the frustration of having every single one of her accomplishments overshadowed by Ronda's presence. Because no one knows that Shayna paid her dues, started as a valet for Bobby Fish and Kyle O'Reilly in Ring of Honor, and then worked her way up through the independent scene and Stardom in Japan. No one cares that Shayna was in the finals of the first Mae Young Classic, or that she competed in the first ever women's WarGames match, or that she held the NXT Women's Championship for a total of 548 days. No one remembers that she held the WWE Women's Tag Team titles twice while Ronda was on her hiatus, or that she set records for number of eliminations in both the Royal Rumble and Elimination Chamber.

And when they teamed up, Ronda was always the star. It was never about Shayna. 

No one remembers that she can exist without Ronda. 

Finally, Shayna goes silent, and Ciampa lets out a breath. "It sounds like," he begins. "You have every right to feel good about what you did. But," he pauses for a moment, trying to decide what to say. "I also know that you probably feel pretty guilty about it."

"Yeah," Shayna says, her voice quiet. "I do." 

"And that's okay," Ciampa says. "I felt the same after I attacked Johnny." He lets out a sigh. "Look, I wish I had some sort of deep, profound advice to give you. But the best I can tell you is not to be so hard on yourself."

Shayna lets out a breath she didn't realize she was holding. "Thanks Ciampa. Seriously, I really appreciate you talking to me."

"Anytime," Ciampa replies. "And in the meantime, enjoy this. You two are going to have an amazing feud." 

"I'll try my best," Shayna says, before saying goodbye to Ciampa and hanging up the phone. Then she opens up Twitter, and types out a single sentence:

Let the Galaxy burn.

It's about time for the Queen of Spades to remind everyone exactly who the hell she is.

[axelwolf8109]

I really miss the United Kingdom Championship Tournament and the Mae Young Classic....we got to see some AWESOME new stars that way

[littletroubledgrrrl]

Have I posted enough Kavita Devi today?

[ashleyfanfic]

Ladies and gentlemen, this is Iyo Sky. She has done this several years in a row. This was a match called War Games. Five competitors on either side. This match was excellent, even without this spot. And also, these are the most badass ladies ever. There amount of talent in that ring is incredible. Let me run down their accomplishments for you.

Iyo Sky (The one with the garbage can on her head - formerly Iyo Shirai) - known as the Empress of the Skies. She has an amazing moonsault off the top rope that she does and she is currently the Smackdown women's champion.

Asuka (formerly Kana in Japan) - First ever female winner of the Royal Rumble. Went undefeated in NXT and retired as their champ when she was called up to the main roster. She shoots mist into the eyes of the other women and can kick your head off your body.

Kairi Sana - Was in a tag team with Asuka called the Kabuki Warriors. They had the tag titles for over a year. Kairi has the best Elbow drop in the buisiness and she's called the Pirate Princess. She won the Mae Young Classic in NXT against former MMA competitor Shayna Baszler.

Bayley - First ever triple crown winner - meaning she's won the NXT championship, Raw championship, and Smackdown championship. She's also won Women's Money in the Bank, the tag titles on more than one occasion, and she's known as one of the Four Horsewomen of the WWE. (Two more of them to come) One of the first women to ever headline NXT Takeover.

Charlotte Flair - Her father is Ric Flair, but that's the least interesting thing about her. She's only been on the main roster for around 8 years and has more than 10+ title reigns. One of the first women to main event Wrestlemania. She is one of the best female wrestlers in the world. One of the Four Horsewomen of WWE.

Shotzi Blackhart - She's still relatively new on the main roster, but she does some insane spots and she's fought for the smackdown women's title twice. Once against Ronda Rousey and once against Iyo. She's also hosted Halloween Havoc in NXT nearly every year since they brought the paper-view back. She rides a tank out to the ring and shoots foam missiles at her opponents in the ring.

Bianca Belair - Was one of two of the first black women to main event Wrestlemania with Sasha Banks. She was a track and field star at the University of Tennessee, but transitioned to wrestling where she has proven her athletic ability. She has the longest reign of any female champion in WWE in the modern era. She's beaten everyone on this list. My favorite things about her is that she makes her own ring gear and she will use her braid as a weapon.

Becky Lynch - First ever Irish Women's Champion - One of the Four Horsewomen of WWE. She's done it all. She's won the Royal Rumble, Headlined Wrestlemania and won both the Smackdown and Raw women's championships making her Becky2Belts. She paused her career to have a baby, and if you want to see the sweetest moment ever, this is how Becky told everyone she was pregnant, and Asuka was the one in the ring with her. Asuka is also a mother who wrestles and travels with her child. Asuka showed other women how to do it. Recently, Becky went down to NXT and won the women's belt (the one that had eluded her while she was there) but spent her title reign having matches with younger talent to put them on TV. She headlined Wrestlemania with Ronda Rousey and Charlotte Flair. The first women to ever do so. And it was earned not given to them. Ronda and Becky had the best story going at the time. Don't get me started on why Charlotte was added to the match.

So, yeah, if you want to be impressed, go look up one of these women.